Some early-stage symptoms can suggest the likelihood of a specific dementia type.^2,3,8

Alzheimer’s symptoms can include:

·      regularly forgetting words, names or recent events;

·      misplacing items;

·      difficulty in recognising people;

·      difficulty with numbers, such as making a cash payment;

·      repetition and repetitive questioning;

·      less ability to organise or plan activities;

·      poor concentration;

·      increasing withdrawal from social activities or anxiety.

Vascular dementia symptoms include:

·      stroke-like symptoms such as muscle weakness or temporary paralysis (refer urgently);

·      mobility change/loss;

·      reduced attention or ability to plan or reason;

·      reading or writing difficulties;

·      depression;

·      emotional instability.

Frontotemporal symptoms include:

·      personality changes including reduced empathy, a lack of sensitivity, tact or inhibitions, or becoming withdrawn;

·      language problems such as selecting or understanding words;

·      developing obsessive habits such as eating binges, especially with sweet foods. 

Dementia with Lewy bodies symptoms include:

·      changing degrees of alertness and/or confusion;

·      visual/auditory hallucinations;

·      slower physical movements including a shuffling gait;

·      falls and fainting;

·      tremors;

·      dysphagia;

·      disturbed sleep.

DLB differs from Parkinson’s dementia in timing. In DLB, dementia symptoms appear within a year of mobility symptoms; for Parkinson’s, movement changes typical of PD have been occurring for at least a year before cognitive decline starts to appear. More than 80% of people with PD will have dementia after 20 years.¹³